![It was definitely out of my comfort zone to get [the dress] and decide I loved it enough not to wait and risk not having something that memorable.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precious_20180902_JRS_00008_ed1.jpg)
![Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sahasra-6-Large-1200x844.jpeg)
![In their full runway outfits, (from left) Audrey Lee 25, Olivia Lucy Teets, 25, Fashion Design teacher Ms. Judy Chance, and Xueying Lili Yang pose for a photo. All three girls made it to Austin Fashion Week by getting in the top 10 in a previous runway show held by Shop LC.
[I like my students] creativity and how they can look at a fabric and make it their own, Ms. Chance said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_9686-e1714088765730-1129x1200.jpeg)
![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Rising to the occasion, West hosted its 21st Special Olympics on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, Special Olympics was created in response to discriminatory actions and behaviors against people with intellectual disabilities.
The first games began in Chicago, Ill. in 1968 at the Chicago Solider Field and have continued to spread for decades. Regional program director Jocelyn Diehl has been with Special Olympics Missouri for 13 years.
“Our athletes excel at things I never could and it touches me personally how meaningful our program is in so many lives. I also love having student-athletes volunteer at our events because I can see first-hand how their experiences change their mindset about the skills of our athletes,” Diehl said.
From Africa to the Asian Pacific, Special Olympics takes place worldwide.
“Everything [Special Olympics] does is tied to our mission of providing opportunities to those with intellectual disabilities. The mission [of Special Olympics] drives every professional decision I make. It’s helpful to have a guiding set of values to lead us and to have personal relationships with our athletes so I know exactly whom I’m serving and helping” Diehl said.
West hosts a basketball tournament for the organization, with over 10 schools across the St. Louis area participating, and over 100 students volunteering to make the day run smoothly.
“I love the interactions I’m able to have with our athletes but one of my favorite parts of the job is leading our coaches. They are such a special and selfless group of volunteers who live out our mission daily. I get to see everyone at competitions where everyone is living their best lives,” Diehl said.
“My ultimate goal of student volunteers’ experience with Special Olympics is learning and appreciating the abilities of our athletes so in a community or professional setting, they would feel more comfortable interacting together, working together and socializing together,”
— Jocelyn Diehl
A variety of activities occur over the day. Basketball games take place in the main gym as ‘Victory Village’ holds face painting. Meanwhile, the small gym hosts hockey and lacrosse shooting. Bracelets and necklaces are available for athletes to decorate. Special Education teacher Lauren Perez is the coordinator for Special Olympics at West.
“As a special education teacher, Special Olympics is an awesome opportunity to allow kids that wouldn’t otherwise be able to access athletics and to have a chance to be a winner and a champion. To show their friends that they can do it,” Perez said.
Taking over the coordinator role in 2018, Perez says it’s about providing an opportunity for kids that wouldn’t have it in other aspects. Students and athletes spend the day together, for lunch students and athletes are provided with lunch through Raising Cane’s.
“My favorite part is watching West High kids love helping other kids who are athletes and need buddies. Watching kids be fulfilled and just kind of have that moment of ‘this is why we do this’ it just gives me warm fuzzies,” Perez said.“It’s such a cool thing that kids will get a lot of fulfillment out of a new experience, having that service opportunity to help other people and have a day that’s not about them. Many teenagers don’t have those opportunities to help other people and realize how truly rewarding that can be.”
Athlete and senior Elizabeth Doyon has participated in multiple Special Olympics over 3 years.
“I’m looking forward to coming out and hanging out with my friends. I’m also looking forward to meeting new people. [If I had to say one word about Special Olympics I would say] amazing but also, scary. You can see what you’re good at, but it can challenge you in certain ways and get you out of your comfort zone,” Doyon said.
This story was originally published on Pathfinder on February 26, 2024.
